Turk Cypriot moderate wins vote in major policy shift in conflict

A mean won Turkish Cypriot statesmanlike elections connected Sunday, defeating a hardliner successful a pivotal vote that could assistance revive stalled U.N. talks connected reunifying divided Cyprus.

Centre-left person Tufan Erhuman sailed to victory successful polls with 62.8% of the vote from conscionable implicit 218,000 registered voters, defeating incumbent Ersin Tatar connected a level of reinvigorating talks with estranged Greek Cypriots connected the aboriginal of Cyprus.

Erhuman, a lawyer, has pledged to research a national λύση — agelong supported by the United Nations — to extremity the island’s astir 50-year division.

Tatar and Turkey, the lone state which recognises breakaway North Cyprus, backed a two-state policy, which has been ruled retired by Greek Cypriots.

Cyprus was split successful 1974 successful a Turkish penetration triggered by a little Greek-backed coup, which followed sporadic warring aft the breakdown of a power-sharing medication successful 1963. North Cyprus was proclaimed successful 1983 and bid talks person been stalled since 2017.

Cypriot President and Greek Cypriot person Nikos Christodoulides congratulated Erhuman, saying helium was committed to resuming bid talks.

Tatar, who came to powerfulness successful 2020, received 35.8% of the vote.

The president of North Cyprus is mandated to correspond the Turkish Cypriot assemblage successful negotiations with Greek Cypriots, who correspond Cyprus successful the European Union and person a accidental successful Turkey’s aspirations to articulation the bloc.

Mehmet Ali Talat, Turkish Cypriot person from 2005 to 2010, said Ankara whitethorn accommodate its attack to the thought of a two-state deal.

“Can it change? I judge so. It depends connected what Turkey tin get retired of a solution,” Talat told the Greek Cypriot Politis paper successful an interrogation published connected Sunday. [Reuters]